The Service Tree: A Comparison of Service Knowledge and Use among Older Blacks and Whites.

N

19

Blacks; Daily Living Skills; Helping Relationship; Individual Needs; Knowledge Level; Older Adults; Racial Differences; Self Care Skills; Social Services; Social Support Groups; Use Studies; Whites

Because Area Agencies on Aging are increasingly required to perform case management functions for older adults, it is important to understand the patterns of need among persons of different racial or ethnic backgrounds as well as the general knowledgeability of persons about what sources are available to them. A conceptual framework was designed to examine the flow of services to older blacks and whites with respect to participation in and knowledge about available community sources of assistance for instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Data were obtained from 1,100 older adults in Arkansas. Survey questions dealt with four IADLs: (1) the need for help with yardwork; (2) the need for help getting to places beyond walking distance; (3) the ability to prepare meals; and (4) the ability to perform personal care chores. An analytical model was employed to describe the various branching of older adults into service users and nonusers, and the sources of aid which they used or were aware of to assist with IADL functions. Differences between blacks and whites appeared to be minimal with respect to general needs for services and the number who accessed agency services. Both blacks and whites were found to be more likely to use informal than formal sources of help. The elderly blacks were less likely than whites to know of sources of assistance. (Eight data tables are included.) (NB)

1987

ED284097